Tree stand platform assembly

ABSTRACT

A tree stand platform assembly includes a platform that has a perimeter edge with a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. The platform has a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer surface positioned between the top and bottom surfaces. The front edge is configured to engage a tree. A plurality of gripping protuberances is attached to and extends outwardly from the outer surface of the rear edge. The gripping protuberances are engageable by a user for stability when the user rotates relative to the platform.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application and I hereby claim thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/178,319 filed Feb. 18, 2021, which is a continuation in part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 17/022,756 filed Sep. 16, 2020, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/364,979 filed Mar.26, 2019 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/375,378 filed Apr. 4,2019.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to tree stands used for hunting purposesand more particularly those tree strands which are not permanently fixedto a tree.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to tree stand devices and moreparticularly pertains to a new tree stand device for providing greaterleverage and stability for a hunter while the hunter is rotating theirbody relative to the tree stand. The invention further includesembodiments having gripping protuberances extending outwardly from anedge of platform to enhance gripping of the platform along its perimeteredge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a platform for supporting a hunter and which has aperimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a front edge, a rear edge, afirst lateral edge and a second lateral edge. The platform has a topsurface, a bottom surface and an outer surface positioned between thetop and bottom surfaces. The first and second lateral edges each includea front section abutting the front edge and a rear section abutting therear edge. The rear section includes toe receiver. The toe receiver isformed by an obtuse angle formed in the outer surface of the rearsection, wherein the obtuse angle is less than 160°. The toe receiverprovides an engagement point for a hunter's foot as the hunter rotateslaterally away from the platform.

In another embodiment, the disclosure generally includes a platformhaving a perimeter edge, wherein the perimeter edge includes a frontedge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. Theplatform has a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer surfacepositioned between the top and bottom surfaces. A plurality of grippingprotuberances extends outwardly away from the outer surface of each ofthe first and second lateral edges.

In yet another embodiment, disclosed herein is a platform having aperimeter edge with a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge anda second lateral edge. The platform has a top surface, a bottom surfaceand an outer surface positioned between the top and bottom surfaces. Thefront edge is configured to engage a tree. A plurality of grippingprotuberances is attached to and extends outwardly from the outersurface of the rear edge. The gripping protuberances are configured tobe engaged by a user for stability when the user rotates relative to theplatform.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear isometric view of a tree stand platform assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear exploded isometric view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a rear, in-use isometric view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through6 thereof, a new tree stand device embodying the principles and conceptsof an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the tree stand platformassembly 10 generally comprises a platform 12 that has a perimeter edge14 which includes a front edge 18, a rear edge 16, a first lateral edge20 and a second lateral edge 22. The platform 12 has a top surface 24, abottom surface 26 and an outer surface 30 positioned between the top 24and bottom 26 surfaces. As can be seen in the Figures, the interior ofthe platform 12 may be comprised of a framework 32 of webbing orinterior supports. The particular pattern is will not affect thestructure, however, by using a framework 32 instead of a solid material,the weight and costs of construction of the platform 12 are reducedwhile providing traction along the edges of the individual sections ofthe framework 32. However, it should be understood that the platform 12could be comprised of a solid piece of material. The platform 12 may beconstructed from any conventional rigid building material throughmetallic materials such aluminum alloys may be preferred based on weightto strength ratios as well as cost of materials. The platform 12 willtypically have an overall greatest length and width each being betweenabout 10.0 inches and 25.0 inches and typically less than 20.0 inches.The platform will have a height from the bottom surface 26 to the topsurface 24 typically less than 2.0 inches. The first 20 and second 22lateral edges, along with the front 18 and rear 16 edges form a unitarystructure with each other. Also, the platform may form a continuousunitary structure starting from the front edge 18 and then extendingalong, in order, the first lateral edge 20, the rear edge 16 and thesecond lateral edge 22.

The first 20 and second 22 lateral edges each include a front section 34abutting the front edge 18 and a rear section 36 abutting the rear edge16. The front sections 34 include at least ¼ of the first 20 and second22 lateral sections. As can be seen best in FIG. 5, a length of thefront edge 18, as measured along a line extending between the firstlateral edge 20 to the second lateral edge 22, is shorter than the rearedge 16. The front section 34, as it moves from the front edge 18 andtoward the rear edge 16 may be angled outwardly such that the frontsections 34 taper outwardly as they travel away from the front edge 18.Alternatively, the front sections 34 may be orientated perpendicular toeach other. FIG. 5 depicts the front sections 34 including a firstportion 42, intersecting the front edge 18, being angled more outwardlywith respect to a second portion 44, though this structure is notcritical to the invention.

The rear section 36, of each of the first 20 and second 22 lateralsections includes a toe receiver 38. The toe receiver 38 is formed by abend 39, i.e. first bend, on the outer surface 30 which forms an angle40 in the outer surface having a measurement of less than 160°.Typically this angle 40 will measure from at least 90° and up to 160°.The toe receiver 38 will most often be positioned at the juncture of thetop surface 24 and the outer surface 30. The rear section 36 includes acontinuation of the second portion 44 as described above and shown inthe Figures. While the second portion 44 includes the bend 39, being anoutward bend, a second bend 41, being an inward bend, may be positionedbetween the first 42 and second 44 portions. As a concave, or inwardbend, the second bend 41 will form an angle 43 on the outer surface 30greater than 180° and typically between 190° and 250°. As can be seen inthe Figures, the first bend 39 may be positioned in the rear one-thirdof the platform 12 while the second bend 41 may be in the frontone-third of the platform 12.

The first bend 39 defines a wing 48 that acts as the toe receiver 38, ortoe kick, that can be engaged by a person's foot as they attempt toposition their body around a tree 46. The wings 48 can extend outwardlyfrom a remaining portion of the first 20 and second 22 lateral edges anydesired length but will typically be at least 1.0 and less than 7.0inches, as extension beyond this length is unneeded.

A plurality of gripping protuberances 50 extends outwardly away from theouter surface 30 of each of the first 20 and second 22 lateral edges.The gripping protuberances 50 are positioned on each of the front 34 andrear 36 sections and in particular will also be positioned along the toereceivers 38 and on either side of the first bends 39. As can be seen inthe Figures, the gripping protuberances 50 are also found along thefront edge 18 to assist in frictionally engaging the surface of the tree46. The gripping protuberances 50 will further be positioned on the rearedge 16 of the platform 12. This location prevents lateral slippage of auser's footwear when the rear edge 16 is being used as a stabilizer whenthe user is leaning rearwardly on the platform 12. The grippingprotuberances 50 form a unitary structure with the perimeter edge 14 ascan be seen in FIG. 3.

The positioning of the gripping protuberances 50 on the outer surface 30provides gripping for a hunter as a hunter rotates their body relativeto the platform 12. For example, when the hunter is using the first 20and second 22 lateral edges to stabilize their body when pushingoutwardly and laterally away from the tree 46 and the platform 12, thegripping protuberances 50 prevent the hunter's footwear from slidingalong the first 20 and second lateral edges 22. To that end, thegripping protuberances 50 may be structured such that the grippingprotuberances extend no higher than a plane of the top surface 24,wherein the plane may be defined as a planar surface or the combinedhighest points on the top surface 24 should the top surface not beplanar. Alternatively, the gripping protuberances 50 may extendoutwardly from the outer surface 30 as well as upwardly from the outersurface 30 such that they extend above the plane of the top surface 24.Generally, however, it is the extension laterally away from the platform24 which provides the advantages of these additional grippingprotuberances 50.

The front edge 18 includes a receiving notch 52 therein that is spacedfrom the first 20 and second 22 lateral edges. As shown in FIG. 3, thefront edge 18 has a shape to partially receive the trunk of a tree 46.The front edge 18 may include a first section 54 positioned between thefirst lateral edge 20 and the receiving notch 52 and a second section 56positioned between the second lateral edge 22 and the receiving notch52, wherein the first 54 and second 56 sections are angled inwardly froma respective one of the first 20 and second 22 lateral edges toward thereceiving notch 52. This forms V-shaped depression, leading to the notch52, and which can engage the tree 46 as shown in FIG. 6. Angles 57formed on the outer surface 30 by the intersection of the first lateraledge 20 and first section 54 and the intersection of the second lateraledge 22 and second section 22 are greater than 200° and may be as greatas 330°.

A post 58 is attached to the platform 12 adjacent to the front edge 18.The post 58 extends upwardly from the platform 12. A cleat 60 isattached to the post 58 adjacent to an upper end 62 of the post 58 andis positioned on a front side 64 of the post 58. The cleat 60 isconfigured to engage a surface of the tree 46. The post 58 is pivotallycoupled to the panel 12 and extends into the notch when the post 58 isin a vertical orientation extending upwardly from the platform 12. Ahold 66 is attached to the post 58. The hold 66 may be knobbed shapedand is configured to engage a strap 68 extendable around the tree 46 andforming an attachment point for the strap 68 on the post 58. The hold 66is positioned on a rear side 70 of the post 58. The notch 52, post 58,hold 66 and strap 68 are part of a conventional mounting system used formounting the platform 12 to the tree 46. However, different,conventional mounts may be used with the platform 12 to perform the samefunction. Thus, the platform 12 may be attached to any mount removablyattached to a tree 46 such that some configurations will not require thefront edge 18 to be configured to engage the tree 46.

In use, the platform 12 is mounted in a tree 46 as shown in FIG. 6 andas described above. A hunter will stand on the platform 12, typicallywhile wearing a harness, and use the platform 12 to allow for adjustmentof their body position relative to the tree 46. The harness willtypically extend from below the buttocks to the lower back so that thehunter is “sitting” in the harness and is able to swing/rotate theirbody relative to the tree 46 to allow for getting a shot off in anydirection. When bow hunting, a hunter will require a larger area ofspace in front and behind them movements required while aiming. Forexample, when shooting behind their location, i.e. in the directionextending outwardly and rearwardly away from the rearward edge 16, willrotate to face away from the tree 46 and move laterally to the tree 46depending on the direction they want to execute a shot and somewhat onwhether they are right or left handed. While rotating and preparing torelease their arrow, the platform 12 is used for stabilization purposes.The toe receiver 38 ensures that the hunter's foot will not slide alongand off of the first 20 or second 22 lateral edges and provides anindentation “stop” or toe kick to achieve a greater amount of leverageas the hunter pushes back from the platform 12 while their shoulder ispositioned lateral to and possibly abutting the tree 46. Without the toereceiver 38 the hunter is more limited in how far laterally they mayposition their body and still maintain the stability required toeffectively use a bow. The gripping protuberances 50 on the firstlateral 20, second lateral 22, and rear 16 edges enhance the gripbetween the user's foot (i.e. generally their footwear) and the platform12. The gripping protuberances 50 on the first 20 and second 22 lateraledges prevent the footwear from sliding forwardly or rearwardly alongthe first 20 and second 22 lateral edges, respectively, and enhance thetraction of the toe receivers 38. The gripping protuberances 50 on therear edge 16, in particular, prevent the footwear from sliding laterallyalong the rear edge 16 when the user's feet are driving into the rearedge 16 as they lean backwardly and laterally away from the tree 46.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

We claim:
 1. A support assembly for standing on by a person hunting from a tree, the support assembly being configured to be removably securable to the tree, the support assembly including: a platform having a perimeter edge, the perimeter edge including a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer surface facing outwardly from the platform and being positioned between and extending between the top and bottom surfaces, said first and second lateral edges being positioned between said front and rear edges, said front edge being directed toward the tree when the support assembly is secured to the tree; and a plurality of gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly away from the outer surface of the perimeter edge such that each of the first and second lateral edges includes at least one of the gripping protuberances, the gripping protuberances each having at least a portion thereof positioned between a plane of a perimeter edge of the top surface and a plane of a perimeter edge of the bottom surface, wherein the gripping protuberances are configured to be engaged by a user for stability when the user rotates relative to the platform.
 2. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lateral edges each include: a front section abutting the front edge; and a rear section abutting the rear edge, the rear section including a toe receiver, the toe receiver being positioned nearer to the rear edge than the front edge, the toe receiver extending laterally away from a line extending through and bisecting the front and rear edges to form a catch in the rear section, the toe receiver being configured to engage a foot to inhibit movement of the foot along the rear section and to the rear edge.
 3. The support assembly according to claim 2, wherein the toe receivers are formed by bends in the first and second lateral edges.
 4. The support assembly according to claim 3, wherein the bends of the toe receivers each form angles being less than 160°.
 5. The support assembly according to claim 1, further including at least one of the gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the rear edge.
 6. The support assembly according to claim 1, the front edge has a notch therein, the notch being configured to receive a post.
 7. The support assembly according to claim 6, further including the post being attached to the platform adjacent to the front edge, the post extending upwardly from the platform, a cleat being attached to the post adjacent to an upper end of the post, the cleat being positioned on a front side of the post and being configured to engage a surface of the tree, the post being pivotally coupled to the platform and extending into the notch when the post is in a vertical orientation extending upwardly from the platform.
 8. A support assembly to physically support a person hunting from a tree, the support assembly being configured to be removably securable to the tree, the support assembly including: a platform having a perimeter edge, the perimeter edge including a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the platform having a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer surface positioned between the top and bottom surfaces, the front edge being configured to engage the tree, said first and second lateral edges being positioned between said front and rear edges, said front edge being directed toward the tree when the support assembly is secured to the tree; and a plurality of gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly from the perimeter edge, at least one of the rear edge, the first lateral edge, or the second lateral edge having at least one of the gripping protuberances positioned thereon, the gripping protuberances each having at least a portion thereof positioned between a plane of a perimeter edge of the top surface and a plane of a perimeter edge of the bottom surface, wherein the gripping protuberances are configured to be engaged by a user for stability when the user rotates relative to the platform.
 9. The support assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first and second lateral edges each include: a front section abutting the front edge; and a rear section abutting the rear edge, the rear section including a toe receiver, the toe receiver being positioned nearer to the rear edge than the front edge, the toe receiver extending laterally away from a line extending through and bisecting the front and rear edges to form a catch in the rear section, the toe receiver being configured to engage a foot to inhibit movement of the foot along the rear section and to the rear edge.
 10. The support assembly according to claim 9, further including at least one of the gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the rear edge.
 11. The support assembly according to claim 9, further including at least one of the gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the first lateral edge and at least one of the gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the second lateral edge.
 12. The support assembly according to claim 9, wherein the toe receivers are formed by bends in the first and second lateral edges.
 13. The support assembly according to claim 12, wherein the bends of the toe receivers each form angles being less than 160°.
 14. The support assembly according to claim 9, the front edge has a notch therein, the notch being configured to receive a post.
 15. The support assembly according to claim 14, further including the post being attached to the platform adjacent to the front edge, the post extending upwardly from the platform, a cleat being attached to the post adjacent to an upper end of the post, the cleat being positioned on a front side of the post and being configured to engage a surface of the tree, the post being pivotally coupled to the platform and extending into the notch when the post is in a vertical orientation extending upwardly from the platform.
 16. The support assembly according to claim 8, further including at least one of the gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the rear edge.
 17. The support assembly according to claim 8, further including at least one of the gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the first lateral edge and at least one of the gripping protuberances being attached to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the second lateral edge. 